Cancer Survivors Network

I'm also on Tamoxifen and had a long talk with my oncol. before going on it. Uterine cancer happens in less than 1% of all who take it. I also saw my gyn. and she said of all her years of treating women on tamoxifen she has had only 1 patient get uterine cancer from it. The signs of trouble are unexpected bleeding, or discharge. My gyn wants to see me every 6 months to make sure all is well so I feel I'm covered.

I am 39 yrs old and had a hysterectomy last summer and my ovaries were left beacuse they were fine. I have not asked my Oncologist, but I will add this to my questions when I go for my 2nd treatment Friday. Though, my Gyn and Breast Specialist didn't think I should have them removed. I will repost what she said after the visit.

rene9

i had a hysterectomy in 2005 i am 42 they left my ovaries in also. i started tamoxifen in dec .i also asked my oncoligist about removing my ovaries he said there is no reason to remove them. they are staying in.

teresa

I had my 2nd of 6th treatment yesterday n asked my oncologist about having kept my ovaries after my hysterectomy n minimizing possibility of recurrence n having a possible mastecomy of the right breast. She said she would send me for a test I think she called a (Brc test)? So, hopefully this test will come back in my favor!

rene9

Hi Kat11, I see you posted this over a year ago-how are you doing? I'm newly diagnosed DCIS with HER2+, and am having a mastectomy in three days, with chemo and herceptin to begin about 3 weeks after that. I also had a hysterectomy (6 years ago) that left in my ovaries, and am having the same doubts you seemed to. I haven't yet talked to my surgeon about it(everything has happened in the course of 2 weeks and trying to get info, work, etc, it can get overwhelming, as I'm sure you know!)and wanted to know if you feel you made the right decision. If I could get my ovaries out at the time of my mastectomy, I would.

I recovered great from my hysterectomy. I recieved my BC diagnosis last may 09. My last chemo was Nov. 2 Had surgery now I'm on my last 7 boost radiation. I have to say radiation is kicking my butt, more so than anything else. I thought radiation would be the easiest, that's what you get from thinking.

triple post weird

double post sorry

I agree about radiation. This is much harder for me mentally than the chemo. Every day for 7 1/2 weeks!!! UGH!!! I'm almost done. I will finish next Tuesday and I cannot wait. Then I rest for two weeks for the hysterectomy. What has been your experience with the hysterectomy side? What drugs are they putting you on post-treatment?

Hi Bleedpink and others:

I found this post interesting as I have read quite a bit about ovary removal and reduced risk for BC. I had a total hysterectomy in 2006 at age 45(for cervical ca in-situ) and was dxed with BC in 2009. However, my doc pointed out that the BC tumor had probably started developing about 7 years earlier (prior to the hysterectomy). Long story short, my oncologist indicated that if I hadn't already had a total hysterectomy that she would strongly recommend that I have the ovaries removed.

I wanted to share the above for those of you facing this decision. I had chemo. and a bilateral mastectomy and I think that the total hysterectomy was quite a bit easier and les traumatic that the BC treatments. I do think that the combination of ovary removal, chemo., and hormonal therapy should help to minimize any chance of distant recurrence.

Best to luck to all of you facing this decision. Jane

I don't know what chemo you were on, I was on adriamycin/cytoxen and then taxol. This chemo made me go through menapause, hot flashes moodiness the whole nine yards. So after the hysterectomy I really didn't have any problems. I healed well and was back to work in two weeks. I am having more pain with radiation, I'm really burning bad under my arm, I finish next Thursday. I'm not sure which medication my onocologist is going to put me on I think arimadex maybe.